A lively audience filed into the Dolby Theatre Friday for PaleyFest’s opening-night Empire panel, with cast including Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett and Gabourey Sidibe and co-creator Lee Daniels spilling the secrets behind Fox’s soon-returning hit. Taraji P. Henson was the only no-show on the bill, held up by filming commitments in Atlanta. But the crowd was rewarded nevertheless with the premiere screening of the show’s March 30 episode, “Death Will Have His Day,” which picks up all the plot threads left dangling after last year’s hiatus break: the Empire board’s ouster of Lucious, Hakeem’s betrayal and Rhonda’s tumble.

Daniels kicked off the Q&A by responding to host Kevin Frazier’s assertion that the show had turned “a little left” early in Season 2, as its first half stumbled in the ratings. “It was growing pains,” Daniels insisted. “I think it would have happened to any show. Though we remain No. 1, we were learning. Sometimes you don’t feel like it’s enough, and so you bring in this person or that person to bring in some more eyes, but at the end of the day it’s a process, and it’s trial and error. We came back.”

‘You’ll always be an outsider because of the color
of your skin. This is the way of the world. So kick
the door open and don’t take no for an answer.’
— Lee Daniels

Daniels reflected instead on the broader success that brought Empire to the Dolby Theatre. He marveled, he said, at the way the young cast of the show took to the red carpet press line. “I’m like, ‘Y’all was nobodies last year. Now look at you.’ It’s an honor to see people of color that are not only in the homes of America, but into Brazil and Spain and Italy and London. They’re getting a sneak peek into what it’s like to be in our world. Not only is the show a part of the African-American experience, but I have as my partners white people that are able to tell the story in a universal way.”

Diversity on Empire – in front of and behind the camera – was a recurring theme for the panel, with an audience member asking Daniels to respond to the race controversy that surrounded the Oscars. “I’ve avoided this question for quite a while,” he said. “I don’t have time to deal with racism. Am I delusional to think there’s no racism in America? Look at f**king Donald Trump. But here’s the bottom line: The minute I embrace it, it becomes real to me. I don’t have time to blame Paramount or Sony or Fox. I get my own money, I get my own actors, I write my own script. I don’t want to hear, ‘Woe is me, they don’t treat me right.’ Get off your ass and do it. You’ll always be an outsider because of the color of your skin. This is the way of the world. So kick the door open and don’t take no for an answer.”

Cayman Islands native Grace Gealey spoke to how universal the show’s success has been, “It has transcended countries,” she said. “In the Cayman Islands, the whole country watches the show. It wasn’t just that I was on the show. People could say, ‘I can do that.’”

Daniels said he knew Empire was a hit when he read a Page Six item that suggested Trai Byers was leaving the show. “There’s not a stitch of truth to it,” said Byers, before excoriating the media for not allowing “truth [to] ring louder than lies.”

Given Empire’s impressive guest star roster, it was inevitable that the panel would be asked to chime in with some suggestions. Gabourey Sidibe kicked things off, whispering, “Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce…” into her microphone. Various names including Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Prince and Rhianna drew cheers from the crowd. Said Daniels: “We have a few more guest stars coming up, but what I’ve learned, because I’ve never done television before, is that we’re good enough.” Still … “I’m old school, you know. For me it’s about bringing the greats back and introducing you to people that were my inspirations, like Sidney Poitier. We should be so lucky.”

He insisted that was only a dream, but Terrence Howard brought the big scoop: “I found out today that O.J.’s gonna be at the premiere,” he joked. “Sorry. I’m just wrapped up in that O.J. show.”

Why is Gabriel still on the show? Her part is so minimal, she just disappears on screen.

Alex • on Mar 12, 2016 7:50 am

The show is a success is because it draws ALL demos. Black, white, male, female, the 18-49 AND 50+ plus crowd love it. They hit a home run mixing drama, comedy, music and Cookie! I agree with 50 Cent when he said a few months ago that they should cut down on guest stars, this show is a great place to introduce some new young actors…IMHO.

They think he’s racist because he doesn’t believe in open borders. They actually want America to be just like Mexico, open sewers and all.

J. Wardlow • on Mar 13, 2016 11:09 am

Indeed. I don’t leave my front door unlocked at night and let people just walk in and out as they so desire. Does that make me a racist? Or does that just depend on the racial makeup of my neighborhood?

Leftists know good and well that controlling the borders is about security, not skin color or nationality. They just like to shape it that way to use people for votes.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 10:17 am

Yes, it’s low quality.

David • on Mar 12, 2016 7:00 pm

I’m confused. How is Donald Trump racist? What racist thing does he do?

Lulu • on Mar 12, 2016 9:59 pm

Don’t you know a person that has been a media personality for over 30 years, now all sudden is a racist because it’s politically convenient. And they just malign someone without actually any substance.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 4:03 am

Agreed. Why ruin a discussion on a great show using the F bomb about Trump? How is he racist when it’s mainly black folks crashing his speeches??? He’s denounced the stupid KKK numerous times so why is he racist pray tell?

RTUT • on Mar 14, 2016 12:49 am

The ideology that created the KKK, the democrat party, must use this type of attack as they believe it cleanses them of what they have done in the past.

Curmudgeon10 • on Mar 13, 2016 6:38 am

He needn’t actually do or say ANYTHING to be a racist. Racists are defined by those who call them that. Ask anyone.

Actually the “color” of his skin is all you need to be a “racist” in this country. Liberals have so well packaged “racism” that it has nothing to do with discrimination but is a convenient label, exactly the way the medieval church used the word “heretic” to silence anyone politically inconvenient.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 10:18 am

Agreed; he’s not racist.

iambicpentamaster • on Mar 12, 2016 9:20 pm

What’s Empire?

Anonymous • on Mar 12, 2016 10:10 pm

The only complaint I have, and it runs deep on the show, is this:
Autotune. Ugh.
For real, lay off the overuse, it’s terrible.

I am a bit concerned when a person refers to Donald Trump, as a source of racism, then later on blames the media for outright lies regarding the status of actors on his show. Does this person know Donald Trump? I bet, that just like the rest of us, he has only seen sound bites from the same lying media. Donald Trump got his biggest swell of support when he said “you cannot trust today’s media, they twist and lie about everything”.

marielopez • on Mar 13, 2016 6:04 am

I loved season 1 better because the family were mostly focused on producing music, now season 2 everyone is at war with each other.

Kala • on Mar 13, 2016 6:10 am

Not Interested

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 6:11 am

Look at yourselves if you want to see racists How is Trump a racist except he doesn’t follow the idiot liberal line

C’mon.. there’s hot white women falling at the feet of black men. I’m sure there’s some Asians doing lackey work somewhere (unless it’s a hot Asian woman, then she’ll be right behind the white women waiting in line). An don;t forget Latinos.. Im sure there’s a Latino drug dealer/gang banger, unless it’s a hot Latino woman, who will be second in line behind the white chick.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 8:25 am

More uninformed race baiting blacks…..so last century. Move along.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 8:37 am

Cry Cry Cry. Yeah we all racist. Why don’t you go ask D. Washington that question. There were no minorities picked because others were more talented this year. Should we start demanding more whites in the nba because of color ?? Grow up take responsibility!

LOL. “Diversity” means a good looking white woman or two, who follow black men around like lost puppies.. Think you’d ever have a white man that wasn’t the villain, lackey or flaming gay stereotype? Dream on.

MTLLA • on Mar 13, 2016 9:01 am

The show, empire, is the only racist thing mentioned in this article. How can a show that does not reflect the true diversity of American society be allowed on air? Where are all the white males or white people for that matter? For a group that makes up over 70+% of the population theIr absence is blaringly loud.

So toss in the Donald and call him names? Pray tell, please back up your claims. You sure you aren’t the racist one because he’s a white male? You sure you’re sure?

Once again, the only connection that this group points to, especially Daniels, is the color of their skin. Yet it is the world that is racist. For them, no matter how successful they might become they will always claim racism held them back.

RTUT • on Mar 14, 2016 12:43 am

Exactly so. I agree. Very disappointing that everything is about skin pigmentation to left wing ideological people.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 11:01 am

Clinton and Cruz got millions from Wall Street Goldman and Sachs, stealing thousands of Black folks homes and you F-bomb self funding Trump. You just lost a fan with out phenom Taraji your just another cw bomb.

Ram6 • on Mar 13, 2016 11:11 am

The black population of America is 12%. This show appeals to not even the entire black population, but does have some white appeal among liberals and those running on guilt trips fomented by BLM and the like and of course the ever present teen and young adult hip hop fan wearing their pants inmate style around the bottom of their butts. To try and compare it or create another “Nashville” out of depressing, constant talk of racism and the like is absurd. It’s no wonder it’s got problems.

I predict this show is headed for the “biz bag” sometime soon. The cast war with each other and the audience appeal is limited.

marielopez • on Mar 13, 2016 12:51 pm

Season 1 was great and the music was superb, especially the song “You’re so Beautiful”, when the whole family were together singing, but season 2 everybody is at war with each other.

Anonymous • on Mar 13, 2016 5:26 pm

Someone is a paid commentator

Jesus H Christ • on Mar 13, 2016 5:24 pm

We live in a society where being a racist makes you worse than a rapist, cannibalistic, murderer like Jeffrey Dahmer.

Seriously. He had to defend himself against accusations of racism

Alex • on Mar 13, 2016 8:16 pm

I doubt there’s any native Americans on the show. Why? Because they are racist. :)